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SINGAPORE: Something “went wrong in the chain of events” that will have to be analyzed, in the case of an Indonesian maid who was acquitted of robbing the family of the chairman of Changi Airport Group (CAG), said the Minister of Internal Affairs and Right. K Shanmugam on Tuesday (September 8).
Parti Liyani, 46, was sentenced to more than two years in prison in March 2019 after being found guilty of four counts of theft of items worth S $ 34,000 from the family of CAG Chairman Liew Mun Leong. Their convictions were overturned in Superior Court last Friday, after their appeal was allowed.
In his sentencing, Judge Chan Seng Onn raised various reasons for Ms Parti’s acquittal, including the “existence of improper motive” on the part of the Liew family, the breaking of the chain of custody of evidence, and problems with the way the police had handled the case. .
READ: Timeline: How a maid was acquitted of robbing the family of the president of Changi Airport Group
Speaking on the sidelines of a grassroots event, Mr. Shanmugam said: “The comments of the judge (of the High Court), we take very seriously. Something went wrong in the chain of events. We have to look at that and deal with what went wrong. “
On Sunday, the Attorney General’s Office (AGC) said Judge Chan’s findings “raise questions that warrant further investigations,” while the Human Resources Ministry said it was in consultation with the AGC on whether “new measures, if any. ”
Police also said they were investigating “various observations” that were raised in the High Court ruling.
“At this point, we should not prejudge what part of the process went wrong. That is why reviews are being carried out,” the minister said, adding that people should wait for the outcome of the reviews.
READ: CAG president’s wife warned, son received warning in 2018 after maid complained about illegal deployment: MOM
“In the process, we shouldn’t be on the defensive. It shouldn’t be a witch hunt.”
“We have to find out what happened, why it happened, and then deal with it. And be responsible. That’s the best way to build trust in the public, in the system. Go out in public and say what action we have taken once the revisions are done “.
Liyani left with her lawyer Anil Balchandani outside of the High Court on September 4, 2020. She was acquitted of robbing the Chairman of Changi Airport Group, Liew Mun Leong, and his family. (Photo: Humanitarian Organization for the Economy of Migration)
READ: Judge’s findings ‘raise questions’ justifying further investigations after maid was acquitted of robbing CAG president’s family: AGC
“JUSTICE HAS BEEN DELIVERED”
When asked about a “status gap” between the two parties and how it might have affected the case, Mr. Shanmugam said that the case “was not between a very prominent business person and a foreign domestic worker.”
“She was charged in a criminal case based on a complaint from the businessman.
“The judgment of the judge (of the Superior Court) analyzes the facts very carefully. It establishes what is the break in the chain of evidence, and in that way, it is good to see that justice is blind and that justice has been done,” he said.
“I would say that my own opinion is that, looking at the judgment of the judge (of the Superior Court), it is good to see justice done,” he added.
READ: The maid acquitted of robbing the family of the president of Changi Airport Group hid her terrible experience from her family
It added that Mr. Anil Balchandani, the attorney who took Ms. Parti’s case pro-bono, had done a “good and thorough job” of spotting the “various inconsistencies” in the evidence.
“That is the job of a lawyer. Be thorough, be clear, present everything fairly to the court. From what I have heard, I think he should be congratulated, he has done a good job, “said the minister.
